Harry Potter and the Guild of the Night

Chapter 19

When Harry woke the next morning, the first thing he tried to do was initiate his Oversight. For the first time, he failed and with his failure he felt a wave of nausea wash over him and he groaned and fumbled for his cane. When he couldn't find it, he groaned again, swept the blankets away and stumbled out of bed. He really didn't want to throw up in his bedroom and in his distress he couldn't quite remember which way to go. Just as he was settling into fully-fledged panic, he felt a hand take his and another settle on his back. The hands guided him to the bathroom where his nausea finally got the better of him. After he had finished, the same cool hands gave him a towel and helped him wash his mouth out. They then guided him back to bed.

"I think it would be best if you remained here, at least for this morning," said Snape in an oddly gentle tone.

Harry gave a start of surprise and blushed. "Er, yes sir. I'm sorry, sir," he said, a bit embarrassed that Snape had seen him so vulnerable.

Snape grimaced at Harry's uncertain look. "There is nothing for you to apologise for, Mr Potter. You were not to know the effects of casting magic upon yourself. The potions I gave you last night will cause you to be very ill if magic is used upon you. The potions will wear off sometime this evening."

"Oh, okay," said Harry quietly. "Sir? What exactly happened last night?"

"How much do you remember?"

"Er, well, I remember the pain and I remember Vol...the Dark Lord being really angry about something. Then I think he succeeded at whatever he was doing and then all I remember is pain and screaming." Harry gulped and rubbed his forehead.

"Do you remember what the Dark Lord was doing?" Snape asked intently.

"I...no, I don't think so," Harry said uncertainly. "It was magic of some kind but I didn't recognise it." He hesitated. "Sir? I remember that you did something. I sort of remember you being in my mind even though I told you not to."

Snape sighed. "I know what you said, Mr Potter, and though I commend you on your logic, it soon became clear that whatever shielding you had had collapsed completely. You were in an extraordinary amount of pain. I entered your mind to attempt to shield you from whatever was happening."

Harry looked startled. "You can do that?"

"Yes. But only because of the Occlumency lessons we have been doing this summer. I am now fairly familiar with your mind. By entering it and shielding myself I was, by extension, able to shield you," Snape explained.

"Oh," Harry said, thinking that through. He then looked up towards where the Potions Master's voice was coming from. "Sir? Where is Remus? And...do you know where my cane is?"

"Remus is asleep. He was here throughout the night. When I took over this morning, he went back to his room," Snape said. "And I believe your friends have your cane. It is probably out in the living room."

Snape stood and walked out of the bedroom. He found all of Harry's friends sitting in the living room, talking quietly amongst themselves. They shot to their feet at his appearance.

"Professor Snape?" Ginny asked anxiously. "Is Harry alright?"

"Yes, Miss Weasley," Snape replied. "It is best if he remains in bed for at least the rest of the morning though."

"Sir?" Ron asked with a surprising amount of respect. "What happened last night?"

Snape eyed Ron long enough to make him shift uneasily. "I am not entirely certain, Mr Weasley. Certainly, the Dark Lord performed some kind of magic last night though what it was, I do not know."

"Can we see him?" Ginny asked.

"You may, Miss Weasley, and do bring his cane in with you," the Potions Master said neutrally.

Ginny grabbed Harry's cane from the table where she had placed it the previous night and followed Snape into Harry's room, ignoring the grumbles of the others. As she walked in Harry's head went back slightly as he scented the air and he smiled.

"Hi Ginny," he said happily and she sat down on the edge of the bed. She grabbed his hand and guided it to the cane as Snape sat down in the chair beside the bed and opened a large book.

"How are you feeling?" she asked gently.

Harry sighed with relief as his hands closed onto the cane and he leaned it against the bedside table, in easy reach. He then groped with one hand for one of Ginny's. She caught his seeking hand in hers and he pulled her into a hug and gave her a quick kiss.

"I'm okay," Harry said quietly, letting her go but keeping hold of her hand. "My throat's a bit sore but I can't feel him anymore."

"Good," Ginny said with relief. "Are you hungry?"

Harry's stomach roiled a bit at the thought of food and he shook his head. "I really couldn't face food at the moment," he said a little weakly. "I tried to start up my Oversight this morning and found out about the effects of those potions Professor Snape gave me at first hand." He rolled his eyes and Ginny chuckled affectionately.

"You always did like finding things out for yourself," she teased and Snape snorted in the background. The combination of these two things caused Harry to start laughing. When he finally stopped, the two of them lapsed into quiet conversation about the upcoming year.

***********************************

Lunch interrupted their conversation as it came accompanied by Professor Dumbledore and Remus Lupin. They were both relieved to find Harry looking so well.

"Well then, Harry, you are looking much better. I trust you are also feeling that way?" Professor Dumbledore asked kindly.

"Yes sir," Harry replied as Remus settled the tray of sandwiches over his legs and sat down on the other side of the bed. Conversation was suspended while the five of them dug into the sandwiches, though Harry treated the food with some suspicion until his stomach indicated that it was going to accept them.

Shortly after they finished, Madam Pomfrey bustled into the room and shooed the rest of them out. She then asked a few pointed questions and checked Harry over.

"Well, I can't find anything wrong with you, Mr Potter, other than the residues of the potions Professor Snape gave you last night. I suppose you can get up now, as long as you don't try using any magic on yourself," she said sternly. "From the levels of the residues, you'll be right as rain by the time the Welcoming Feast begins."

With that she bustled back out of the room and Remus replaced her. He helped Harry get up and dressed and then drew him into a tight hug.

"I was so worried about you last night," he said as he let Harry go and handed him his cane.

Harry smiled at him and they walked out into the living room where Harry's friends leapt up and descended on him. Before they had a chance to ask any of the thousand questions they had, Professor Dumbledore clapped his hands together.

"Now, now, children," he said with amusement, "I have a few question of my own before you pester Harry." Everyone smiled and they settled Harry onto the couch. Dumbledore sat next to him and patted him on the knee. "How are you coping? You've gotten rather used to using your Oversight."

"Um, okay, I guess." He laughed rather deprecatingly. "It's surprising how easy it is to get used to not seeing anything again. But not so surprising to remember how much I hate this."

"I am sure," the Headmaster said soothingly. "Now what do you remember from last night?"

Harry repeated what he had told Snape and Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, Professor Snape told me last night what he had done for you. If you are willing, I would like to get your memories of what Voldemort was doing, Harry. I hope to try and learn what he was up to."

"Erm, okay Professor," Harry said. "I assume that you mean in a pensieve. Well, you'll have to teach me what to do."

"Of course, Harry. I will not ask you to do this today but sometime in the next couple of days would be most helpful." The Headmaster rose to his feet. "Now I'm sure you wish to spend your last day of freedom with your friends and not your teachers so Professor Snape and I will let you get on with it."

Dumbledore and Snape both headed towards the door.

"Professor Snape?" Harry said before they could leave.

"Yes, Mr Potter?" Snape replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Th...thank you," Harry stammered, "for helping me last night."

"You are welcome," Snape said after a moment and left the room with the Headmaster.

Those remaining in the room stared after the Potions Master with surprise. Remus shook his head and turned to Harry.

"I know you were meant to move up to Gryffindor Tower today. Do you still wish to do that?" he asked with a mixed of good humour and a little wistfulness.

Harry blinked and then laughed. "Yes! I'd almost forgotten about that."

He and his friends jumped up and Ron and Neville headed into his room with Remus.

"You stay there, Harry," Ron yelled over his shoulder. "We'll get your things together."

Harry sat back down with a small laugh. "Just as well Ron said that," he said quietly to the girls. "I just realised how hard it would be to pack my things right now."

The girls laughed and Ron and Neville came back out into the living room, with Remus levitating Harry's trunk in front of him.

"Well, that was easy," Ron said cheerfully.

"Yes," Neville replied dryly. "Particularly when Remus used that charm. We didn't have to do anything."

Ron deflated a little as the others laughed and they left the room for Gryffindor Tower.

******************************

It was Hermione who reminded them that they had better change into their school robes and get down to the Great Hall for the Welcoming Feast. The boys grumbled a little but headed up to their dormitory. The Gryffindor girls did the same and Luna left the tower for the Ravenclaw dormitories, having moved her things back there that afternoon. Remus had left Harry's school robes out on his bed so it was a matter of a few minutes for the boys to get dressed. They trooped back down to the common room and sat down to wait for the girls.

"When did Snape say you'd be able to use your Oversight again?" Neville asked.

"Oh," Harry said, "he said sometime tonight but Madam Pomfrey said I should be able to use it before the Feast started. I might try it again." He laughed. "Just clear the way to the bathroom in case I react the way I did before."

Ron and Neville laughed and Harry concentrated. He sighed with relief when his vision was flooded with the energy fields and the ghostly images of his friends.

"It's back," he said with relief as Hermione and Ginny came into the room from the girls' dorms.

"What's back?" Hermione said with some alarm.

"My Oversight," Harry replied with a grin and the girls sighed with relief.

"Well, come on, everyone," said Ron excitedly. "Let's go down."

They trooped down the stairs and entered the Great Hall. The four house tables were back in place as was the teacher's table and all of the teachers except for Hagrid and Professor McGonagall were already seated.

"Harry!" Hermione gasped, grabbing his arm. "Look! It's Remus!"

Harry looked up towards the teacher's table and saw the energy colours and ghostly image of Remus sitting where the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher normally sat, next to Professor Snape. He also saw Master Nhean sitting at that end of the table, next to Remus.

"He must be our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," she said excitedly.

Harry and the others were startled.

"But...but how?" Neville asked with growing excitement. He had gotten his best marks ever in Defence Against the Dark Arts, except for his OWL, in third year. "I thought the Board of Governors wouldn't let him teach?"

"I guess Dumbledore must have convinced them," Harry said and was about to go up to the teacher's table when he heard the sound of the rest of the students arriving. "We'd better sit down," he warned as Luna walked into the Hall. "The rest of the students are coming."

The Gryffindors hustled over to their table and took their seats, Hermione fretting over not having done her duty as Prefect. Ron rolled his eyes at her as they sat on one side of Harry. Ginny sat on the other and Neville took the seat directly across from him. The rest of the students poured into the Hall, laughing and shouting at each other and took their seats at their respective House tables. There were many interested and speculative glances at Harry, which he and his friends did their best to ignore. They were quickly joined by Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan then Lavender Brown and Parvarti Patil sat down next to the boys.

The other Gryffindors stared in shock at Harry. They had never seen him without his glasses and they were a bit startled about the cane that was leaning against the table next to him. Professor Dumbledore had done a masterful job of ensuring that no news of Harry's injury leaked out. Between the closed hearing and the trip to Diagon Alley only the day before, there had been almost no time for rumours to start. Before anybody at the table had time to ask any questions, Hagrid slipped into the Hall and took his seat and then Professor McGonagall came with the first years. She lined them up in front of the teacher's table and the Sorting Hat and stool were brought in. The rest of the students quietened down and the rip on the brim of the Sorting Hat opened and it began to sing.

I told you of the dangers

That were approaching last year.

But you did not listen

And you did not hear.

Once more I will tell you

And I hope you listen well.

For if you do not,

What will happen I cannot tell.

Many years ago,

When this school had just begun.

The Founders found a way

To sort those who would come.

For Gryffindor prized those

Whose courage did not fail.

And he did not care from where

Or from whom they did hale.

Hufflepuff favoured diligence

And those who would work true.

She welcomed those who would share

All that they knew

Elegant Ravenclaw liked wit

And those who were sharp of mind.

But she like all before her

Took those of every kind.

Noble Slytherin chose cunning

And those who were crafty and sly.

But this did not include those

Who were willing to lie.

The four Founders worked together

To educate them all

But now I find their noble vision

Is all but ready to fall.

Work together must all Houses

To achieve what must be done

To support the one true champion

The fight it must be won.

If you will not heed my message

If you will close you ears

Then undone will all the work be

That took so many years.

And having failed my task

I will be forced to leave

So listen to my words this year

And to each other cleave.

There was complete silence at the end of the Hat's song and the teachers exchanged worried looks. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. "When I call your name, please sit on the stool and I will place the Hat upon your head. Adamson, Aaron."

A small, blond boy scuttled nervously forward, picked up the Hat and sat down, putting it on. The Hat paused for a moment and then yelled, "Ravenclaw!"

As the rest of the sorting went on Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville leaned in towards each other.

"Well, that was certainly clear enough!" said Hermione.

"But how did the Hat know about the Prophecy," Neville said quietly. "That's surely what it meant by the 'one true champion' and 'the fight that must be won'."

"It lives in Dumbledore's office," Harry said. "So it probably heard the prophecy last year when Dumbledore showed it to me. I'm not sure I like being called that though."

"That was weird though, what the Hat said," Ginny mused. "About the four Houses. It seemed to imply that Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff have always taken everyone, including the muggleborn but that somehow Slytherin has gone downhill lately. 'But this did not include those who were willing to lie.' How strange was that?"

"What about what it said about leaving if we don't start cooperating?" Ron said indignantly. "It can't actually be serious about us cooperating with those Slytherins?"

"Ron!" Hermione admonished. "That's precisely the attitude that the Hat doesn't want!"

Ron settled back in his seat, grumbling and they all turned back to the Sorting. Many other students were whispering amongst themselves about the Hat's remarkable song as were many of the teachers. Harry looked up at the teacher's table and was greeted by a withering and distinctly unfriendly glare from Snape. He flinched and turned back to his housemates. Ron, who had also caught the glare, leaned over to him.

"What was that all about, mate?" he asked with concern. "I thought he was treating us like adults?"

Harry shook his head. "Shh, Ron! Nobody can know about that! Think about it. He can't treat me or any Gryffindor any better than he has been. Not with Malfoy and the others here. It'd be too suspicious. I knew he was going to have to go back to treating us like he always has."

Ron scowled and the two of them looked over at the Slytherin table to where Draco was sitting. The pale, blond Slytherin was sitting there alternately sneering at them and looking at Harry with confusion.

Ron laughed. "I'll bet dear old Dad told him about you being blind but now he's confused because you aren't really acting like it."

Harry laughed as well and waved cheekily at Draco. The pale Slytherin's expression settled into confusion then his face flushed and he glared venomously at the two of them before turning away and whispering to Crabbe and Goyle. Harry and Ron laughed again and turned back to the Sorting just in time to catch the last of the first years.

"Zane, Tobias."

"Gryffindor!"

They clapped and cheered along with the others. Then the entire Hall quietened down when Professor Dumbledore stood.

"Welcome all to another year at Hogwarts. Now, tuck in," he said then sat down as platters of food appeared on all of the tables and everyone did indeed tuck into the food. There was an odd silence at the section of the Gryffindor table where Harry was sitting and his housemates alternately ate their food and watched him. He tried to ignore it and talked quietly with his friends. When he had finished his dinner, Dean broke the silence.

"Harry, what's going on? Why aren't you wearing your glasses? Why weren't all of you on the train? And who's the new teacher sitting next to Professor Lupin?" Dean asked rapidly.

Harry gave a small laugh at the flurry of questions and every Gryffindor in earshot leaned in to listen. "I..." he hesitated as he realised that, apart from the original questioning after his rescue, he'd never actually had to explain what happened to anyone. He took a deep breath. "I...My uncle had some problems this summer and he...well, he hit me. And he...he blinded me."

Seamus and Dean burst out with furious swearing that was loud enough to draw the attention of Professor McGonagall.

"Mr Finnegan! Mr Thomas!" she yelled. "That sort of language is not tolerated at this school. Ten points each from Gryffindor and do not let me ever hear that sort of thing again or it will be detention for the both of you!"

Seamus and Dean ducked their heads as Harry and the others grinned at them. They understood what the two remaining sixth years was feeling. The news was quickly being passed up and down the Gryffindor table and onto the other Houses. The din from so many students talking took a sudden upturn in volume and many students from the other Houses peered over to try and catch a glimpse of Harry. He hunched his shoulders and ducked his head; he knew that the news must be spreading like wildfire and he cringed a bit at the thought of all the stares he was going to gather now. His only consolation was that he was not likely to be able to see most of those stares.

"But Harry, you don't act like you're blind," Lavender said confused.

"That's because of my new teacher," Harry said proudly, glad that he could move on from what had happened. He still didn't like to talk about it. "His name's Master Nhean and he'll be training me this year."

"Will you still be doing any classes with us?" Parvati asked before Seamus broke in again, his face looking tragic. "What about Quidditch?" he said, horrified.

Harry laughed. "Its okay, Seamus. My ban was lifted and Professor McGonagall gave me back my broom and, well, I can still play."

"How?" Dean and Seamus chorused in disbelief.

"It's something called Oversight," Harry explained. "I can't really give too many details but it lets me see. Well, sort of. Anyway, it's certainly good enough to play Quidditch. Ask Ron and Ginny."

Seamus and Dean did just that and Ron and Ginny gave them an excited rundown of just how good Harry was. Harry was then forced to explain a little bit about his training and his Master. He told them briefly about the Guild of the Night and gave them an idea of what he was learning. He did not mention that the others were also being trained.

Dean and Seamus would have asked more questions but they were interrupted by the Headmaster standing again. When the Hall quietened down, he spoke.

"Once again, welcome back to Hogwarts. I have just a few start of term messages before I let you go to your beds. Firstly, I remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is indeed forbidden. I must ask you all to not venture in there for any reason." His face was very serious and Harry and Hermione shivered as they remembered what had happened in there with the centaurs. "Also Mr Filch has asked me to remind you that the list of banned items is on the door of his office. You would do well to examine it carefully. I understand that the entire inventory of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes is on the list." The students laughed and Ron's chest swelled with reflected pride. "I would also like you to welcome back Professor Remus Lupin who has agreed to return as our Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." He was forced to paused as all the students but for the Slytherins burst out in cheering and clapping. Remus stood and gave a small bow, blushing. Harry and his friends were particularly loud and Remus gave them a small smile.

Dumbledore held up his hands for silence. "I would also like you to welcome Master Nhean who is here to aid in the training of Mr Potter." There were many intrigued looks at both Master Nhean and Harry and a polite smattering of applause. Dumbledore then eyed the students seriously over the tops of his glasses. "You all now know that Voldemort has returned." There were gasps and even a few small screams. "I am therefore pleased to see that you have all returned. There will be some small security measures put in place for this year. I am sure you will all respect them. Lastly, I am pleased to announce that all of the Educational Decrees issued last year have been revoked." He paused while the cheers rang out again and then held up his hands for silence again. "Now, off to bed!"

Hermione and Ron stood and started to gather the first years. Harry waved them off and waited with Neville and Ginny for the Hall to clear a little. When it had, he walked up to the teacher's table where Remus was still sitting, waiting for them with a smile.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Harry demanded.

Remus laughed. "It was supposed to be a surprise!"

"It sure was," Harry grumbled good-naturedly. "How did Dumbledore manage it?"

"Apparently he laid the guilt on fairly thick with the Governors," Remus chuckled. "I'm afraid he used your name and circumstances rather extensively, Harry."

Harry laughed and brushed that off. "I don't care," he said happily. "I'm just glad you're going to be here. Am I going to have to call you Professor Lupin again?"

"Well, in class you are but outside of class I think you can still call me Remus. Now you three had better get up to your dorm."

Harry grinned and they headed towards the doors. As they came out into the Entrance Hall, they were accosted by Draco, who was flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.

"Well, well," the Slytherin sneered, "how the mighty have fallen. Nothing but a cripple now, aren't you, Potter?"

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Harry replied calmly as Neville and Ginny bristled.

Draco looked him up and down insultingly, lastly eyeing his cane. "What are you going to do, Potter? Feel your way around the Dark Lord?" He leered.

"No, actually I thought I might do something like this," Harry said pleasantly and then dropped to a crouch, swinging his cane at Draco's legs. The swift action caught Draco unprepared and his legs were swept out from under him. He fell backwards heavily and Crabbe and Goyle stepped forward with menacing looks on their faces. Harry didn't hesitate and moved smoothly from his crouch back into a standing position. He quickly poked the two of them in the stomach with his cane, knocking them to the ground as well, and then returned the end of his cane to the floor. The whole thing had taken no more than ten seconds.

"Do you think that might work?" he asked Draco with acid sweetness and then the three Gryffindors quickly headed up to the Tower before a teacher could come and investigate. When they got to the corridor where the Fat Lady's portrait hung, they collapsed against the walls and burst out laughing.

"Oh, Harry, that was wonderful!" Ginny laughed and hugged her boyfriend.

"Oh, I don't know," Harry said with a grin. "I still think Neville taking on Crabbe and Goyle in first year was pretty good."

Neville blushed and then waved his hand. "No, no, you win, Harry. I didn't really get them and they ended up knocking me out. You got all three!"

The three of them burst out laughing again and headed for the Fat Lady.